THAT’S DEBATABLE:

Gov. Schwarzenegger recently said ignorant bigots make claims that illegal immigration is to blame for the state’s fiscal woes. “Anyone who says you have a budget crisis because of undocumented immigrants, I would say this is a prejudiced comment rather than reality,” he said. What do you think?

Roughly 3 million people are violating U.S. immigration law in California. These individuals consume about $10 billion a year in federally mandated kindergarten- through-12th-grade education and emergency room services in addition to non-federally required welfare and health services, housing assistance and other programs. No wonder California’s per capita welfare costs are three times the U.S. average. In the past, immigrants, both legal and illegal, came to California for opportunity and hard work. Today, unfortunately, California’s illegal immigrants get the most value in government services of any state, giving them incentive to violate immigration law in California and bring their families too.

Chuck DeVore

Assemblyman

(R-Newport Beach)

What I hear is frustration from the governor. I think he is worried the ballot propositions needed to support the budget deal he cooked up with legislative leaders will go down in flames. Recent polling indicates voters are unlikely to approve the propositions containing tax increases. He had expected voters to just simply go along because he said so.

The root cause of our budget crisis is years of insane overspending by a state that is addicted to spending. While the costs associated with illegal immigration are substantial, they are not the primary cause of the state’s budget problems.

Tom Harman

State Senator

(R-Huntington Beach)

As an immigrant myself, I am passionately for legal immigration and against illegal immigration. To suggest that illegal immigration does not have a large effect on our state budget is naïve at best and race-baiting at worst.

However, the governor is correct when he says that all of the budget shortfalls are not due to illegal immigrants — overspending, waste, fraud and inefficiencies are all contributing factors as well.

Past versions of Gov. Schwarzenegger acknowledged the problem of illegal immigration and even authorized the deployment of California National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in June 2006.

We need to address all of the above factors if we are going to give Californians the efficient, accountable government they deserve.

Van Tran

Assemblyman